Virginia 4th-grade textbook criticized over claims on black Confederate soldiers

The Washington Post ^ | 20 Oct 2010 | Kevin Sieff

[Palter]

A textbook distributed to Virginia fourth-graders says that thousands of African Americans fought for the South during the Civil War -- a claim rejected by most historians but often made by groups seeking to play down slavery's role as a cause of the conflict.

The passage appears in "Our Virginia: Past and Present," which was distributed in the state's public elementary schools for the first time last month. The author, Joy Masoff, who is not a trained historian but has written several books, said she found the information about black Confederate soldiers primarily through Internet research, which turned up work by members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Scholars are nearly unanimous in calling these accounts of black Confederate soldiers a misrepresentation of history. Virginia education officials, after being told by The Washington Post of the issues related to the textbook, said that the vetting of the book was flawed and that they will contact school districts across the state to caution them against teaching the passage.

"Just because a book is approved doesn't mean the Department of Education endorses every sentence," said spokesman Charles Pyle. He also called the book's assertion about black Confederate soldiers "outside mainstream Civil War scholarship."

Masoff defended her work. "As controversial as it is, I stand by what I write," she said. "I am a fairly respected writer."

The issues first came to light after College of William & Mary historian Carol Sheriff opened her daughter's copy of "Our Virginia" and saw the reference to black Confederate soldiers.

"It's disconcerting that the next generation is being taught history based on an unfounded claim instead of accepted scholarship," Sheriff said. "It concerns me not just as a professional historian but as a parent."

[Snickering Hound]

[marstegreg]

“This isn’t just about the legitimacy of the Confederacy, it’s about the legitimacy of the emancipation itself.”

I don’t see that their decision to fight for the south would have been a moral one, just a practical one.
I don’t know if there were such soldiers or not, but it doesn’t seem so farfetched that people would have chosen security over uncertainty.

[central_va]

[phi11yguy19]

>>The 1st Louisiana Native Guards was a Union regiment.

How about you READ your link instead of just posting and misrespresenting?

"A predecessor regiment by the same name existed in the Confederate Louisiana militia."

[Krankor]

....blacks fighting on the American side in the American revolution.

Wasn't that an episode of Daniel Boone.

[HereInTheHeartland]

Now there you go again. Presenting facts instead of hysteria.

That's just unfair.

[mrmeyer]

Could you provide a source? I’d definitely like to read more about what Mr. Williams covered. Thanks.

[ontap]

They must have been a team of spies since they are all dressed in gray uniforms!!!

[Non-Sequitur]

Except that that picture is an internet photoshop fake. Here's the actual picture:

Notice the Union officer on the left.

[central_va]

[I cannot think of a name]

Actually I have heard liberal claims that 20% of Washington’s army was black.

I am certain there were some, but I strongly doubt that number. Of course I also doubt that very many blacks fought for the South in the Civil War.

[ontap]

1st Louisiana Native Guard (CSA)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For the Union Army regiment, see 1st Louisiana Native Guard.
1st Louisiana Native Guard (Confederate)
Louisiana Feb 11 1861.svg
Active May 2, 1861–February 15, 1862
Country Confederate States of America
Allegiance CSA Dixie
Branch Confederate Militia, American Civil War
Type Infantry
Size 1,135
Engagements None

The 1st Louisiana Native Guard (CSA) was a Confederate Louisiana militia of “free persons of color” formed in 1861 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was disbanded in February 1862; some of the members joined the Union Army’s 1st Louisiana Native Guard regiment (later the 73rd Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops).
[edit] Confederate Louisiana militia

Shortly after Louisiana’s secession, a new militia regiment formed on May 2, 1861, consisting mostly of “free persons of color” Creole French Speakers (gens de couleur) between the ages of 15 and 50. At that time, an estimated 10,000 African American residents of the state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans had gained their freedom. This regiment was also called the Louisiana Native Guard. Though ten per cent of its members would later join the Union Army’s 1st Louisiana Native Guard, the two were separate military units.

André Cailloux, who later became a hero of the Siege of Port Hudson as a Union officer, served as a lieutenant in this Confederate Louisiana militia regiment of the Native Guard. The militia unit was the first of any North American unit to have African-American officers.[1]

The South did not use this Confederate Native Guard regiment in any militar

Really have to be careful when using Wikipedia

[ontap]

See post #32

[NativeNewYorker]

The pressure to maintain the narrative that South=Confederate=Slavery=Evil is overwhelming.

[central_va]

Date: July 13, 1862

Following the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States (Union) Lieutenant Colonel John G. Parkhurst with the 9th Michigan Infantry reports,”The forces attacking my camp were the First Regiment Texas Rangers, Colonel Wharton, and a battalion of the First Georgia Rangers, Colonel Morrison. . . . There were also quite a number of negroes attached to the Texas and Georgia troops, who were armed and equipped, and took part in the several engagements with my forces during the day.”3

[rockvillem]

there is no question that some fought for the South

This. Was doing some research this morning after this story broke, and it seems clear that there really can't be much dispute about this. The number of blacks, what service they rendered (e.g., how many actually fought in combat versus supporting roles), the degree of real or implied compulsion, etc. are all in dispute, but there is contemporaneous evidence of some fighting. I had no idea just what a political football this was.

[Non-Sequitur]

I doubt that the picture is of the Louisiana soldiers regardless of whether they were Union or rebel. For one thing they’re wearing winter overcoats while the 1st La. Native Guard/73rd USCT spent all its time in the gulf area. It’s probably a picture of Union soldiers from one of the other USCT regiments.

[carton253]

Before the usual subjects show up and the thread descends into its usual slugfest... I’m going to do a commerical.

The Stainless Banner is a free (that’s right free) e-zine dedicated to the Armies of the Confederacy. It contains analyses of battles, regimental histories, biographies, and first hand accounts from soldiers who participated in the battle.

To subscribe, just send freepmail me your name and email address, or send an email to: thestainlessbanner@gmail.com.

This month’s contest: subscribe by October 28th and be entered to win a Mort Kunstler Ceramic Christmas Ornament, “Review at Moss Neck.” The ornament features, Lee, Jackson, Stuart, and Longstreet as they review Rooney Lee’s cavalry brigade.

Thanks!

[kalee]

I have previously related our experience at the Atlanta History Center where we witnessed them argue with and then turn away a young black Confederate re-enactor.
Even though he had documentation showing his ancestors were free blacks in New Orleans who owned slaves and who fought in the Confederacy, they refused to allow him to tell his story. It did not fit their PC presentation.
We happened to run into the young man later at Johnny Rockets and had supper with him. He told my children about his family and their history.

[ontap]

Don’t be so sure of that...some confederate officers uniforms were of a charcoal gray.

http://www.ushist.com/american_civil-war_uniforms_confederate_cs_f.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniforms_of_the_Confederate_States_military_forces#Confederate_States_Ar